Data from: Mechanisms of thermal adaptation and evolutionary potential of conspecific populations to changing environments

In a common garden environment, fish from an extreme desert climate had significantly higher critical thermal maximum (p<0.05) and broader optimum thermal window for aerobic scope (>3°C) than fish from cooler montane climate. In addition, the desert population had the highest maximum heart rate during warming (20% greater than montane populations), indicating improved capacity to deliver oxygen to internal tissues. In response to acute heat stress, distinct sets of cardiac genes were induced among ecotypes, which helps to explain the differences in cardiorespiratory function.

Candidate genomic markers and genes underlying these physiological adaptations were also pinpointed, such as genes involved in stress response and metabolic activity (hsp40, ldh-b and camkk2). These markers were developed into a multi-variate model that not only accurately predicted critical thermal maxima, but also evolutionary limit of thermal adaptation in these specific redband trout populations relative to the expected limit for the species.

This study demonstrates mechanisms and limitations of an aquatic species to evolve under changing environments that can be incorporated into advanced models to predict ecological consequences of climate change for natural organisms. Usage notes critical thermal maximum CTmax of three redband trout populations and a hybrid. Heating rate of water was 0.3°C min−1 to 22°C and 0.1°C min−1 thereafter until CTMAX was reached. maximum heart rate Maximum heart rate of three redband trout populations and a hybrid.

Maximum heart rate was stimulated by an intraperitoneal injection of atropine sulfate and isoproterenol. Heating rate of water was 1 C every 6 minutes. metabolic rate and aerobic scope Standard and maximum metabolic rate of three redband trout populations and a hybrid at 12°C, 15°C, 18°C, 21°C and 24°C. Maximum metabolic rate was achieved by exercise. Aerobic scope was calculated as the difference between standard and maximum rate.

RAD TAG catelog RAD Tag sequence (75 bp ) and SNP position of the 5903 genetic markers.